hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
So...How Will the Edmonton Oilers Blow it THIS TIME?!
OK, Oilers, you made it to the playoffs. So how will you fuck it up this time? I want to explain something about myself as a hockey fan. I don't hate the Edmonton Oilers. I'm a fan of Connor McDavid. However, I absolutely despise Oilers fans.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 77 Recap: Respect Gorgeous George
We need to show Alexandar Georgiev more respect. The man's leading the league in wins...for the second straight year. He was an All-Star this season. So can we please stop pretending that Georgiev's the problem when he's actually been bailing us out?
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Lightning Clinch, but Has Their Window Closed?
Similar to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning were idol on Friday, but could clinch a playoff spot. The one difference, albeit a small one, was that while Toronto needed only two of the following three teams--Detroit, Philly, and Washington, to lose, and regulation wouldn't be mandated in some cases, Tampa Bay needed all three teams to lose in regulation, because the Eastern Conference's Wild Card picture is so muddled.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
What Will the Toronto Maple Leafs Do for an Encore?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had chances to clinch this season, but came up short. Their latest attempt was on Wednesday, when all they needed was a point, but the Tampa Bay Lightning won, 3-1. The Leafs were idle on this night, but they could clinch with help from outside. Basically, they needed any two of the three teams to lose: the Detroit Red Wings, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Washington Capitals. All three did end up losing, and in regulation, too. The Flyers lost first, and Detroit fell second, and that ended up being enough to send the Leafs back to the playoffs.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Jets Take Off to the Playoffs
A packed Thursday night of NHL action only saw one team with the opportunity to lock up a playoff spot. That team was the Winnipeg Jets, and their destiny was in full control. A win would do it. If not, just one point and the Blues losing would get it done. Or a Blues regulation loss and a Wild loss would also get the job done. The schedule was interesting, as there were Eastern Conference games and Western Conference games, and and the three games connected to the scenario all played at the same time: Flames @ Jets, Avalanche @ Wild, and Blues @ Predators.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 76 Recap: A Wild Thursday
Boy, do I hate the Minnesota Wild. I mean, you can't blame me for hating the Wild. After all, they are the Colorado Avalanche's longest tenured division rival. No lie there, folks. While the Battle of Quebec (Nordiques/Canadiens) only lasted 16 years, and was a division rivalry for only 14 of those years, the Wild and the Avalanche have been division rivals since 2000. Whether it's the Northwest Division, the current Central Division, or even the localized West Division from the COVID-affected 2020-21 season, we just can't get away from the Minnesota Wild.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 64 Recap: All Hail Cale
I am so blessed that Cale Makar is on my team! To say that this was a day to remember for the Colorado Avalanche would be an understatement. We made a lot of noise today, not just on the ice, but off it as well. The Avs are making moves! First off, we traded Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Sean Walker; the Flyers later waived Johansen. We all knew Johansen would be dealt; he had been underwhelming, for the most part, for the Avs this season. As for Walker, he's supposed to be quite the key player, so this is a big move for the Avs.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 63 Recap: Just(us) Another Manic Monday
You know, there are days where I really, really love the sport of hockey. Today is one of those days. The Chicago Blackhawks picked a bad night to enter Ball Arena. The Colorado Avalanche were coming off a terrible loss to the Nashville Predators, and when a team gets hit in the mouth like that, they are looking for blood. Thankfully, our favorite punching bags, the Blackhawks, are willing to oblige. So for the final time, it's time to teach Connor Bedard a few lessons.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 50 Recap: Back to Work
It's been a minute since the Colorado Avalanche last took the ice. A lot has happened since the Colorado Avalanche's last game. Of course, there was this big thing in Toronto known as the NHL All-Star Game, with the Avalanche being represented by Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Alexandar Georgiev. The trio played on a team captained by MacKinnon, but the group lost to a team captained by Connor McDavid in the opening minigame of the four-team tournament, which was won by the team captained by Toronto's home superstar, Auston Matthews.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
A Look at the Canadian Teams' Standings Entering the NHL All-Star Break
Canada's Stanley Cup drought reached 30 years even after last season saw none of their seven franchises made it past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Since 2011, these have been the seven Canadian teams in the NHL: the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers, the Montréal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Winnipeg Jets. Only the Jets (both versions) have never been to the Final, and out of the six who have been there, only the Canucks and Senators haven't won the Stanley Cup.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
The History of the Adams Division. Top Story - January 2024.
I've followed the NHL in some form for 30 years, but I'm still learning about the league I enjoy watching. A long time ago, I did learn about the old divisions: Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe. These divisions predated the geographical ones that we've known for the last 30 years, and the rivalries were immensely intense during that period. This will be the first of four stories focusing on those classic divisions, and I'll start geographically, even though the names had nothing to do with location. First off, the Adams Division.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 39 Recap: Hey Now, You're an All-Star!
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off the team's first overtime win of the season; a 5-4 comeback win over the New York Islanders. Colorado has won three straight games, and regarding game #39, it's a trip to Dallas to face off against the Stars. The Avs' last visit to Dallas ended with Colorado winning 6-3 after trailing 3-0 in the second period. This is an important game, as Dallas is in the thick of the Central Division race.
By Clyde E. Dawkins12 months ago in Unbalanced
